Volunteer Opportunities in Costa Rica

Experience vacationing in beautiful Costa Rica and have a taste of the infamous Pura Vida! Lifestyle. Most of our volunteer projects in Costa Rica are based in and around the traditional yet vibrant university town of San Ramon, Alajuela. Meet other volunteers from around the globe who are also contributing to the social development of local communities.

Watch our Costa Rica program video to learn more about the program in Costa Rica.

Program Video

Sustainable projects

uVolunteer partners with local social responsible NGOs and associations. The majority of our volunteers are placed within the local municipality, social welfare service or community funded projects in San Ramon, Alajuela in Costa Rica.

Safety first always

Volunteer safety is of the utmost importance and we have several risk management services in place in each program. You can feel confident that all projects are inspected and screened by our local staff on a regular basis.

The program at a glance

Start dates every other Friday

12 meaningful projects

Homestay accommodation

Meals served daily

2-weeks minimum duration

Central location for travel

24/7 in-country support

A free cultural guidebook

3-days in-country orientation

Why uVolunteer?

We are a small boutique organization that was founded 11 years ago with the mission of providing affordable volunteer programs in Costa Rica. We can keep our fees low because we are the local organization established in Costa Rica to serve local community projects and employ local workforce. With uVolunteer there is no middleman, you are booking your program directly with the organization that will manage your placement in-county.

Our motto is work hard, play hard so we have designed our program to have a 4-day working week with a 3-day weekend. This ensures you have ample time for your work placements and downtime to explore Costa Rica. Find out more about us.

Costa Rica Information

Applications and Enrollment

Who can apply?

To participate in most of our volunteer projects in Costa Rica, you must be 18-years or older, unless you are accompanied by a parent or guardian. For the building, environment and turtle conservation projects, 17-year olds may apply with their parent’s consent.

Individuals and groups from all nationalities can apply for the program in Costa Rica.

How to apply?

Our application is completed entirely online. First, you submit a reservation along with a deposit of US $199 to secure your place. You then be provided access to your user account on our website where you will complete your profile and application forms.

Pre-Arrival

From the moment you book your trip, you will be assigned a program manager and local coordinator who will be in constant communication with you by email and phone until arrival day. Before you arrive in Costa Rica, we’ll provide a pre-arrival information packet that outlines pick-up procedures and everything you need to know for a hassle-free arrival to the project location in San Ramón

Qualifications & Requirements

Eligible participants for projects that involve working with children or in institutions will need an intermediate level of the Spanish language. Those booked on community and environment projects only need a basic level of Spanish.

No other formal qualifications or specific experience is necessary to work in our volunteer projects in Costa Rica. What’s most important is that you are enthusiastic, passionate and open-minded.

When to apply?

We recommend you submit your reservation online at least three months before your intended travel date.

If you want to arrange your trip less than two months before your arrival date, we’ll probably be able to make arrangements for you. Just contact us to check availability.

When are payments made?

We recommend you submit your reservation online at least three months before your intended travel date.

The first payment is made during your program reservation. This is not an application fee, it is just an initial payment. The remainder of the program fee 60 days before your program’s arrival date. Payment instalment plans are available upon request.

Arrival Dates

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Program Arrival Dates

When can you join the Costa Rica program?

Program arrival days are ongoing and year-round with start dates on every other Friday. The arrival location is Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Airport Code: SJO. Participants should plan to arrive in Costa Rica between 6 am and 8 pm local time (CST) on one the start dates listed below.

Airport pick-up on arrival is included in your program fee providing that you arrive on the arrival date within the arrival time schedule.

What if I can’t arrive on this day?

If you cannot arrive on this date then the only other option is to arrive a day earlier and stay at a hotel close to the airport so that you can be picked up the following day. If you prefer to be pickup and stay in the volunteer dormitory until arrival day, you will be charged a $75 pickup fee in addition to an extra day fee for any additional days you stay at the volunteer dormitory.

Start Dates

Friday, 20 Sep 2019

Friday, 4 Oct 2019

Friday, 18 Oct 2019

Friday, 1 Nov 2019

Friday, 15 Nov 2019

Friday, 29 Nov 2019

Friday, 13 Dec 2019

Friday, 27 Dec 2019

Friday, 10 Jan 2020

Friday, 24 Jan 2020

Friday, 7 Feb 2020

Friday, 21 Feb 2020

Friday, 6 Mar 2020

Friday, 20 Mar 2020

Friday, 3 Apr 2020

Friday, 17 Apr 2020

Friday, 1 May 2020

Friday, 15 May 2020

Friday, 29 May 2020

Friday, 12 Jun 2020

Friday, 26 Jun 2020

Friday, 10 Jul 2020

Friday, 24 Jul 2020

Friday, 7 Aug 2020

Friday, 21 Aug 2020

Friday, 4 Sep 2020

Friday, 18 Sep 2020

Friday, 2 Oct 2020

Friday, 16 Oct 2020

Friday, 30 Oct 2020

Friday, 13 Nov 2020

Friday, 27 Nov 2020

Friday, 11 Dec 2020

Friday, 25 Dec 2020

Program Fees

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Program Fees

uVolunteer is an independent organization that does not rely on external funding in order to provide you with our affordable our volunteer abroad programs. All our funding is provided by our volunteers in the form of a program fee.

Program Location

Our program is located in the traditional yet vibrant university town of San Ramon. Most volunteers will stay in our volunteer dorms located just a few minutes from the town center. San Ramon is located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley around 45 minutes drive north from the capital San Jose.

San Ramon de Alajuela, Costa Rica

Known as the city of presidents and poets, San Ramón has produced some of Costa Rica famous residents, including four former presidents and one of Costa Rica’s best-loved poets Lisimaco Chavarria. This large coffee town is also renowned for its picturesque beauty, rich heritage, and vibrant nightlife.

San Ramón’s central location means you will be within easy reach of the international airport in San Jose and also only a 1 hours drive to the Pacific coast. Due to San Ramon’s central location, a 5-hour bus ride will take you to anywhere in the country.

Meals

Breakfast and dinner is served Monday to Friday in the dorms. The meals include traditional Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto (fried rice and beans) for breakfast or a casado for dinner (chicken, fish, beef or pork served with rice and beans and vegetables.) If you have special dietary needs, please let us know in advance.

Lunches

Volunteers can find delicious and affordable lunches at a soda (a small local restaurant). It’s a great opportunity to get to know your work mates and immerse yourself in authentic Costa Rican culture. We recommend that you budget US $3-4 a day for lunches at local restaurants.

Weekends

Breakfast and dinner are provided at weekends for volunteers who choose to stay choose to stay in Koforidua. Volunteers who travel to other destinations in Ghana will have to provide for their own meals over the weekend.

Conservation Volunteers

Conservation volunteers will be accommodated in homestays with a local family close to their project located in rural San Carlos or in Playa Buenavista. All your meals are provided to conservation volunteers, as a restaurant aren’t easily accessible.

Orientation and Debrief

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Orientation

3-days of training and debriefing as soon as you arrive to Costa Rica.

Arrival Day

On arrival to San Ramón, we will show you everything you need to know about the dorms, where you’ll call home for your entire volunteer placement. We’ll also take a short walk around the dorms community shopping areas.

Orientation Day

The next day, we’ll provide an overview of Costa Rica’s culture and customs, discuss program safety rules, communications and money and our code of conduct and review details about your volunteer project.

San Ramon City Tour

After the debriefing session, we will startthe city tour. Will show you how get around, bus stations, landmarks, post office, banks and you will also have the opportunoty to vist the local market.

Free Spanish Language Lessons

You will also begin your Spanish lessons on this day. Then, we’ll go for a tour of San Ramón and show you where you can do banking, buy lunch and groceries, and get your phone set up if you need to.

Friends of uVolunteer

That evening, we’ll host a social event where you’ll get to meet some “Friends of uVolunteer” — local friends and family of our staff who help out and often spend time at the dorms. By the end of your trip, they’ll start to feel like your extended family!

2nd Day of Orientation

On Sunday morning, we’ll visit a few local attractions. We’ll stop for lunch and return to the dorms to continue with your Spanish lessons. After that, you’ll have the evening to yourself so you can relax a bit before your project begins the next day!

1st day of your placement

On the first day of your volunteer project, your local coordinator will accompany you to your placement and introduce you to the project staff. You’ll receive an orientation and be assigned a working schedule.

Transportation Orientation

Your local coordinator will also volunteer with you on your first day to help you settle into the project. They’ll show you how to travel to work and back using public transportation so you can feel comfortable doing it alone the next day.

Work Schedule

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A Typical Working Week

This schedule can vary slightly as different projects have different schedules. If you are taking Spanish language lessons, your lessons will be in the evening after dinner or from 8 AM to 2 PM if you are taking the intensive language course.

Sea turtle conservation

Volunteers on the turtle project work a 6-day week. Working hours will be dependent on how many volunteers are placed on the project at the time. The schedule is shift work both in the day, at night and early mornings. During your day off you will need to be back at the turtle camp before nightfall. For this project, you will not have time to travel and explore Costa Rica during your placement.

Weekdays All projects except the turtle project have a have a 4-day working week from Monday to Thursday. A typical weekday schedule would look something like this:

6:30 AM Wake up and prepare.

7:00 AM Breakfast with others volunteers and staff in the volunteer house.

7:30 AM Travel by public transportation or walk to your project location.

8:00-12:00 Volunteer work placement

12:00-1:00 Lunch break (exact time varies depending on your volunteer project) Usually volunteers join other staff members at a local restaurant, bring their own food or eat in the canteen with the teachers and students of the school or community project.

1:00-3:00 Volunteer work placement

3:00 PM After work volunteers usually return to the volunteer house or explore San Ramón with the staff of their projects or with other volunteers. Other options include going to the local gym, shopping or sightseeing.

6:00 PM Dinner at the volunteer house.

7:00 PM Depending on the day of the week, we may have social activities planned, such as a soccer match with the locals, latin dance classes, going to church, a BBQ at the volunteer houses or assisting with the adult community English club. This time is also your free time.

Discover and Explore

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Free Time and Weekends

Central Location

From your home base in San Ramon in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, you’ll have easy access to to the rest of the country – as well as to neighbouring countries like Nicaragua and Panama.

Costs

There are many affordable day and weekend trips you can take in Costa Rica during the long weekend. We recommend a budget of at least US $200 to cover your transportation, accommodation, meals and the cost of admission at tourist attractions. If you plan on seeing a lot on the weekends, you may want to budget even more.

Check out our affordable travel guide to Costa Rica for more ideas on what to do on your days off.

What Can You Do in Your Free Time?

Take a weekend trip to see the famous Arenal and soak in rejuvenating hot springs.

Zip-line through the cloud forests in Monteverde or tour a coffee plantation.

Go surfing or snorkeling in Montezuma and Santa Teresa, where the nightlife is legendary.

It is always motivating to wake up to the fresh salty air of the Pacific ocean in a tropical country.

I knew that I wanted to take part in a volunteer or service project when traveling to Costa Rica. My husband and I encountered uVolunteer on the internet. The website intrigued me, especially the captions about teaching English in a local school. I love children and I love teaching, and out of all the projects I researched this seemed the best for me.

About Us

We believe that Travel is a Catalyst for Growth. We believe in education, cultural learning, youth mentoring, entrepreneurship and adventure. uVolunteer is a boutique provider of meaningful volunteer abroad placements and cultural learning trips to Costa Rica, Ghana & Thailand. Read more about us.

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